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Incident
At 3:40am, in July 16, 1924, a beat patrolman on Gratiot Street. heard the sound of gunshots in the vicinity of Genessee and Bullock Streets. About the same time, a man coming out of 308 Greenwich St. noticed a man running down the sidewalk. He also noticed this man was not wearing a hat. Other officers searching the area found Patrolman John Schmiegel lying on the ground at the rear of Johnson's Store on Bullock Street. Patrolman Schmiegel had been shot several times and was deceased. His service revolver was missing. A man's straw hat was found at the scene. It was assumed that Patrolman Schmiegel was checking the rear of the store and came upon a burglar who overpowered the officer killing him with the officer's own weapon. Several promising leads were followed including that of a man who left town for Canada the morning after the murder. He was never found by Canadian authorities. In 1931, the four bullets that were removed from Patrolman Schmiegel's body were sent to the Detroit Police Crime Lab for analysis. The lab concluded that the bullets were fired from a .38 Iver Johnson revolver, not the officer's weapon. In 1939, police received a letter from a man who had been charged with selling bootlegged liquor to a couple state police informants. During a quarrel, this man heard one of the informants say he had Patrolman Schmiegel's weapon. The letter writer claimed to have seen the weapon when it was taken from its hiding place. Both informants were interviewed by police, but the gun was never found. The investigation into the death of Patrolman Schmiegel went on for sixteen years before it was termed inactive. Patrolman Schmiegel had been employed with the Saginaw Police Department for three years.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Schmiegel gave the Saginaw Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saginaw community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Schmiegel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Saginaw Police Department has lost 8 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 415 officers killed feloniously in MI, 59% of the 703 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1924, 1 officer at Saginaw Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 4 years on record. The heaviest was 1950, with 2.
In 1924, 9 officers in MI were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 124 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 14.
In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1924, 228 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 33. Of the 5 killed feloniously at Saginaw Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 37; the middle age was 36. John had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 7.5 years.
John was 33. Of the 400 killed feloniously in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 35. John had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
John was 33. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 33. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 16.7% of these deaths at Saginaw Police Department; December holds the most, 50%. Wednesdays: 33.3%.
July holds 9.2% of these deaths in MI; December holds the most, 12.3%. Wednesdays: 12.3%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 75% of all 8 deaths at Saginaw Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 59% of all 703 deaths in MI, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 31.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Saginaw Police Department has 8 officers remembered here, John among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Saginaw Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
